This IPA presents a medium amber color in the glass, with crystal clarity and a cap of light beige foam. In the aroma, look for a complex array of herbal-pine notes, mild floral tones, light spice, hints of stone fruit, and a dose of citrus. In the flavor, firm hop bitterness hits upfront and builds across the palate, lingering in the finish with a bold drying note that clings to the tongue. The malts contribute a touch of wheat and mild caramelization to support the bold hops which are the stars here. Dry-hopped with CTZ and Chinook, there is plenty of herbal spice, very zesty citrus peel, and a dash of pine, along with a prominent resinous character that's likely augmented by the use of experimental hop #07270 which is known for its resinous qualities. For food pairings, spicy food will complement the bold hops, while sweeter dishes will provide contrast. Charcoal grilled chicken with a sweet and spicy basting sauce is at the top of our list. Additionally, a snack of cheddar or other pub cheeses would do nicely, as well. The creaminess of cheese makes a good foil to the acidity of the beer. Cheers!

Christian Moerlein Brewing Company (Cincinnati, OH)

There’s a rich brewing tradition in and around Cincinnati, OH. In fact, at its peak, Cincinnati was home to at least 36 operational breweries, with many not surprisingly located in the German “Over-the-Rhine” district. One of the individuals who were key to establishing the city as a brewing hub was Christian Moerlein, a blacksmith and apprentice brewer from Bavaria who came to America in 1841 and settled in Cincinnati a year later. In 1853 he founded the Christian Moerlein (pronounced like “more-line”) Brewery, which grew to become the most well-known in the city and was ranked among the top ten nationally. Moerlein’s beer was sold across the U.S. and, quite remarkably for the era, internationally as well – which made Moerlein unique among Cincinnati’s breweries. Though the brewery carried on after Christian Moerlein’s passing in 1897, Prohibition in 1920 caused the brewery to close its doors. Luckily, though, our story continues.

Hudepohl, another of Cincinnati’s famous German-brewed beer companies (dating back to 1885), brought the Christian Moerlein brand back from extinction and reintroduced their beer as a high-end offering in 1981. This put the Moerlein brand on the forefront of the U.S. beer renaissance which was just beginning to take shape. Eventually, however, the Hudepohl Brewing Company fell on hard times and was purchased by the Snyder International Brewing Group which kept the Moerlein brand going, although just barely. Production of these Ohio-centric beers shifted to Maryland until 2004, when Cincinnati area resident and beer business veteran Greg Hardman bought the Moerlein name and beer recipes in order to rebuild the brand back home in Cincinnati – which he has done with great success in the past several years we might add. For more information about the Christian Moerlein Brewing Company and their ‘Moerlein Lager House’ restaurant and brewery that opened in Riverfront Park in early 2012, check out www.christianmoerlein.com.

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